Best Mini Drones In 2018

What was primarily considered to be for geeky hobbyists, drones have taken the technology scene by storm and have become incredibly popular. In recent years, drones have become incredibly easy to get hold of, as well as the many videos and publications available online to learn how to fly them proficiently. One of the easiest ways to get into the hobby is to purchase one of the best mini drones which will be detailed later on in this article.

Like with most technology, there are many different models available to choose from, although this can sometimes making picking the correct one more challenging than learning to operate it. A lot of people might assume that all drones are pretty much the same, as from a basic viewpoint they do the same function. This view, however, is incorrect. While all drones do have the same basic components, the large variety of different features and designs they can have can really change how it flies. It’s these design differences that you must consider when buying a drone.

What are mini drones?

While the name may give it away, the definition of a mini drone is a little more complex than just stating that it’s a “small” drone. Drone sizes are determined by their frame size, i.e, the distance from opposing corner motors. Mini drones are roughly the size of an adult hand, whereas nano drones will be small enough to fit in your hand.

Mini drones are perfect for a new hobbyist’s first experience of drones. This is due to their ability to be used indoors and outdoors with ease. They are fairly resilient to crashes, and are somewhat affordable, compared to their larger counterparts.

The main drawback for this type of drone is that is lacks a lot of the flashier features that the larger models will have.

Mini drone features

Even though the best mini drones are small, they still offer a huge amount of fun, indoors and out. The compact size of this type of quadcopter allows you to take it wherever you please. It also means that any crashes you do make will have a significantly lower destructive impact.

The majority of the drones that we will outline below will have a few common features. Power to the drone is done so by a USB rechargeable battery. Flight time with this type of battery will be shorter than 10 minutes, so you may want to carry additional batteries with you if you’re planning on using it for a significant amount of time. If you feel like 10 minutes isn’t a long time, just think about the size of the whole drone. If it had heavy batteries to extend flight time, then it would need a bigger frame… thus resulting in a not-so-mini-drone! All of the controllers run at 2.4GHz.

All of these quadcopters have internal gyroscopes which provides flight stability; they also have high and low flight modes. Low flight more is perfect for testing out the ropes.

The price of mini drones is another great plus, as it means that entry into the hobby isn’t exclusively for enthusiasts who are happy to spend a lot of money.

Drone flying skill level and purpose

It’ll be easy to get excited and want to test out what your mini drone can do as soon as you get it, but it’s important that you know where your skill level lies. This will reduce the chances of your losing/breaking your drone within your first couple of flights. For this reason alone, it’s advisable for complete beginners to opt for the cheaper drones, so that they don’t make any dents to their wallet, if they make any dents to the floor.

Depending on what you plan on using your drone for will affect which models will be best suited to you. Some drones will allow you to take videos and photos natively, whereas others will be more streamlined for speed and will not support media capture unless you strap a GoPro to it, or something similar.

Mini drone flight time

The flight time is the amount of time the drone can sustain itself in the air post-launch, without it needing its batteries charged or changed. Flight time will vary due to the drones overall weight, battery size and frame structure. While it is possible to get mini drones that can reach near 20 minutes flight time, their price isn’t necessarily worth it. typically, most mini drones will last approximately 10 minutes.

Mini drone cameras

If your primary reason for purchasing a drone is to achieve decent quality photos and videos, then it’s obviously important that you buy a drone that can give you the best media quality for your budget.

Purchasing a cheap drone for media capture is never worth it, if it’s something that you’re interested in. Always try and get the higher end models if possible.

Mini drone transmitters

The transmitter, also know as the controller, is the device that allows you to take control and pilot your quadcopter. The majority of transmitters will have two analogue sticks that operate at the frequency of 2.4GHz. Depending on your budget, the capabilities of your transmitters will differ. Some will have the option to show real time diagnostic information on their inbuilt LCD monitor, and some will have absolutely no features at all. Having a display on your transmitter can make the whole experience more interesting, and the information you receive back from it can help to make you a better pilot.

Summary of the best mini drones

It’s the perfect time to get into the drone hobby with how readily available drones are these days. Drones are still a highly trending technology, with no chance of disappearing anytime soon. Choosing one of the best mini drones that have been listed in this article will save yourself the headache of having to scroll through the hundreds of models that are available, and will give you the head start you need in order to have the maximum amount of fun with your drone.